Maria Alicia Carrillo Sepulveda specializes in vasculo-metabolic physiology. Sepulveda received her B.S. in Nursing from the University State of Campinas (UNICAMP, Brazil), and her Specialization in Cardiology from the Heart Institute at the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). After four years in clinical practice, Sepulveda transitioned to a scientific career and received her Ph.D. from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) where she investigated the mechanisms by which thyroid hormones regulate vascular function. Sepulveda obtained a total of five years of post-doctoral training in hypertension from Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa (USA) and in vascular physiology from the Medical College of Georgia (USA), where she developed expertise in vascular physiology and pharmacology.
While transitioning to Assistant Professor at NYITCOM in 2015, Sepulveda established an independent research program in vascular physiology and metabolism. Sepulveda’s lab focuses on understanding mechanisms by which metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes alter key molecular mediators that are essential for maintaining vascular integrity. Sepulveda’s group has recently identified that lysine acetylation, a posttranslational modification (PTM), is linked to metabolic disorders-induced vascular dysfunction. Moreover, in collaboration with a research group under the leadership of Martin Gerdes, Ph.D., her lab has investigated how thyroid hormones can directly alter vascular function.
Sepulveda’s laboratory uses cutting-edge integrative approaches (in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo) and state-of-the-art approaches like pre-clinical mice models of obesity and diabetes and genetically engineering mutant mice. Trainees in the lab receive extensive training ranging from molecular and cellular biology to integrated cardiovascular physiology.
Active Projects and Research
- Sex Differences in Western Diet-induced Obesity and Hypertension.
- The Role of Posttranslational Modifications (PTMs) in the Vasculature from Diabetic and Obese Mice Models.
- Thyroid Hormones Effects in the Vascular System.
- Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Its Effects on Vascular Function.
Recent Projects and Research
- 01/01/2022-01/01/2023: Diabetes Action Grant ( PI: Sepulveda) : PPARgamma deacetylation: a potential therapeutic target to treat diabetic complications
- 01/06/2022-01/06/2023: Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship from American Heart Association (Sepulveda & Maddie) – PPARgamma deacetylation and hypertension
- 01/06/2021-01/06/2022: Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship from American Heart Association (Sepulveda & Kiernan) – PPARgamma deacetylation and hypertension
- 09/15/2018 – 08/31/2019: R56HL131547 (Savinova) NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Tissue-nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase (TNAP) Induced Vascular Calcification and Atherosclerosis.
- 07/14/2017 – 07/14/2018: Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship from American Heart Association (Sepulveda & Kramer) - Long-Term Exposure to Western Diet Increases Vascular Levels of Lysine Acetylation: A Potential Key Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction.
- 09/01/2015 – 09/01/2016: In-House NYIT Grant (Sepulveda) – Thyroid Hormone and Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes.
Publications
- Carrillo-Sepulveda MA, Maddie N, Johnson CM, Burke C, Lutz O, Yakoub B, Kramer B, Persand D. Vascular hyperacetylation is associated with vascular smooth muscle dysfunction in a rat model of non-obese type 2 diabetes. Molecular Medicine. 2022 March.
- Liu L, Fan L, Chan M, Kraakman MJ, Yang J, Fan Y, Aaron N, Wan Q, Carrillo-Sepulveda MA, Tall AR, Tabas I, Accili D, Qiang L. Vascular hyperacetylation is associated with vascular smooth muscle dysfunction in a rat model of non-obese type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2020
- Carrillo-Sepulveda MA, Panackal A, Maracheril R, Maddie N, Patel MN, Ojamaa K, Savinova OV, Gerdes AM. Triiodothyronine Reduces Vascular Dysfunction Associated with Hypertension by Attenuating Protein Kinase G/Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein Signaling. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2019
- Kramer B, França LM, Zhang Y, Paes AMA, Gerdes AM, Carrillo-Sepulveda MA Western diet triggers Toll-like receptor 4 signaling-induced endothelial dysfunction in female Wistar rats. .Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2018
View a complete list of publications
Honors and Awards
- Recognition Award for a Young Investigator from American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Experimental Biology, 2014
- Council New Investigator Travel Award from High Blood Pressure Research-American Heart Association, 2013
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship from American Heart Association, 2012
- Kidney Council New Investigator Travel Award from High Blood Pressure Research-American Heart Association, 2011
- Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from the American Physiological Society Cardiovascular Section and Experimental Biology, 2011
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
- Endocrine Pancreas